Crime a top priority

For years, ICE agents, now asking for help, have had their hands tied by elected official creating sanctuaries in cities and states for felons to hide in. Turn the page on Saturday’s Herald and Gov. Charlie Baker is telling us that congestion and climate are the Bay State citizen’s major concerns. That question may be true in some circles. That is at least until those concerned citizens become victims of crime.— Al DePaoli, Woburn

Have priorities straight

“… be very careful and do your business right,” the prophetic advice written by their cousin, Kate and Patrick Healy in 1883, were just some of the reminders/advice sent to my great-grandmother and great-grandfather before they and their five children embarked for their journey to America.

The Boston Herald editorial staff in its Dec. 14 article titled, “Let ICE do its job — enforcing the law ” seems to appeal to common sense and specifically to the honorable judges’ oath of office, “I will administer justice … under the Constitution and laws of the United States.”

I may add, the law-abiding public has the right to be protected from repeat offenders — criminal aliens who obviously have not done their (“business right”). What do you think, your honor?

— Jim Kane III, Auburn

Ugly side to history

Mr. Weinstein, perhaps you never took history as a subject in school or you would certainly know that there isn’t a piece of land in the world that hasn’t been stolen from its occupants, conquered and usually mistreating them as well. Rome conquered the entire known world of its time and they were not very nice about it. England has been conquered about seven times if memory serves me. As far as slavery is concerned, that unfortunately has been an institution since time immemorial and still exists today. Furthermore, again unfortunately, racism is a worldwide phenomenon that someday may be overcome with good manners at the very least.

— M.T. Mazzarella, Andover

Protect voices of victims

The positive aspect about of the unraveling sexual misconduct is the new awakening and assertion of rights by women, who now feel empowered to speak up. However, the fear of losing one’s job, a career opportunity or more may still be the overwhelming reason for many women to keep quiet and not report any sexual predatory behavior and sexual transgression. The fact remains that the lack of faith and trust in the existing mechanism to address sexual misconduct charges is by far the biggest impediment for the victims to report such unethical behavior that may even be tantamount to criminality.

Just to name a few, from Harvey Weinstein, Matt Lauer, Charlie Rose to Leslie Moonves, be it the entertainment industry, news media, corporate America or a mundane job, unless laws against sexual exploitation and code of conduct are spelled out clearly and implemented vehemently, I am afraid we are only looking at the tip of an iceberg of toxic and unchecked culture of pervasive predatory sexual harassment not only in America, but also across the world in different forms and situations, targeting not just women, but also men and the vulnerable LGBT community.